State of the union?

Question

Hello from Liverpool, England

Can anyone tell me who made the first state of the union address and when?

Also, in the US, do most tv stations cover this.

The BBC are saying that President Bush has to be carefull that he doesn't become a 'lame duck'. What is the origin of this phrase?

Have most presidents been described as a 'lame duck' at one time or another during their presidency?

Answer 1

George Washington gave the first state of the union address on January 8, 1790 in New York, which happened to be the US capital at the time. Interestingly, Thomas Jefferson discontinued the practice of delivering them in person soon after, as he thought it was too kingly. From Jefferson to Woodrow Wilson in 1913, they were written, sent to Congress and read out by clerks. Wilson was the first President since the 18th century to deliver his in person, and all his successors have followed suit. At least one major TV network can be relied upon to cover the state of the union address.

A 'lame duck' President is one who lacks political power, usually because his administration is hampered by lack of support in Congress or elsewhere. In Bush's case the 2006 mid-term Congressional elections, which resulted in a Democratic majority, mean that Bush's power to pass laws is - in theory - significantly reduced from what it had been in his first term, and in the years 2004-2006. A 'lame duck' President is one who can't get laws passed because a hostile Congress (the legislative body of the American government) will not allow the bills the President introduces to be passed into law.

Presidents do not inevitably become lame ducks, although they can become such when there is no chance of them being re-elected. Presidents can only serve two terms, and most of them get to do so, which means that halfway through their second terms, their political support starts to drain away from them and pass to their perceived successors. This means that they spend much of their last two years in office trying to shore up their legacy and ensure that the people they want to succeed them get elected - not a good time to try passing unpopular legislation.

So, no, most Presidents have not been called lame ducks, if only because the two-term limit only became law with the 22nd amendment to the Constitution in 1947 (a result of Franklin Roosevelt's unprecedentedly long period in office).

The phrase was coined in the 18th century on the London Stock Exchange, referring to brokers who defaulted on their debts. It travelled to America in the years before the Civil War, when it was used to refer to the notoriously ineffectual President James Buchanan, who failed to do anything very decisive when the confederate states seceded from the union.

Answer 2

George Washington gave the first state of the union address on January 8, 1790 in New York City, then the provisional U.S. capital.

Yes Most TV Stations do cover this.

A lame duck is an elected official who loses political power or is no longer responsive to the electorate as a result of

* a term limit which keeps him from running for that particular office again,
* losing an election, or
* the elimination of the official's office, but who continues to hold office until the end of the official's term.


United States

Any president of the United States who had been twice elected to the office since the 22nd amendment introduced term limits is, by the above definition, a lame duck for his entire second term, as he is prohibited from seeking re-election. However, presidents are not usually considered to be lame ducks until the election of their successor.

Answer 3

George Washington gave the first state of the union address on January 8, 1790 in New York City, then the provisional U.S. capital. In 1801

Yes the TV stations do cover the speech


The description of 'lame duck' is often applied to politicians who are known to be in their final term of office, when colleagues and electors look toward a successor. It is also sometimes used to describe office-holders who have lost an election but have not yet left office.

Answer 4

every coach has a state of the union speach,
it all depends if hes talking to the junior team ,or trying for the big leagues ,or just a big finnish he can point to and say this is what i would have done ,if i hadnt run out iof time ,if i had the money ,if the intelligence was more acurate

pleas note a lame duck is yet a duck thus can fly from danger
just because it looks clumsy dosnt mean it cant fly off at will ,
some may try to clip wings and use other methods of bondage ,

yet a presidential dead duck has this suitcase ,just filled with numbers no one knows what they mean ,some say the dooms day codes other say its the debts owed [causing the lameness]

Answer 5

Actually, the first one was by George Washington. And it's been done just about every year since then by every president. It's covered by the BigThree Networks and the news channels. Also about half of the independents.

A 'lame duck' is an easy hunting target.

Answer 6

Federal government this is the conventional of your final 3 years and that they only count selection your base pay no longer any beyond common time (and we are purely talking a pair of small pension, no longer 70%+. Federal government retirement relies upon a private investmet scheme..TSP). i'm uncertain CT State Union workers choose greater powerful retirement plans than the federal government workers. it type of feels intense. With announcing all of that, maximum government workers are paid much less (no longer counting reward) than inner maximum workers. As such, inner maximum workers must be waiting to take that extra funds and investment it of their very own retirement money owed (which could have larger returns)..making an allowance for a greater powerful retirement plan. the subject is maximum individuals do no longer..they piss the money away and than they ***** approximately government retirement money owed (considering the fact that funds has been set aside for them). human beings constantly communicate approximately removing SS, removing reward and so on. because of the fact human beings must be waiting to speculate on their very own. yet what all of us comprehend concerning the customary public of human beings (and human nature), is that individuals think of short term. they do no longer save and that they do no longer make investments.

Answer 7

Lame ducks are easier to shoot than John F Kennedy..
HA HA!

Is it duck season?(says Elmer'Harvey' Fudd with his sniper rifle)